Pervasive Search Architecture Personal Content Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current online search engines are limited to publicly available web documents and cannot access personal data stored on personal devices, failing to incorporate access-restricted content for search results.
Innovation Solution
A pervasive search architecture that extends search capabilities to personal content stored on personal devices and sensor systems by using compute nodes to generate and serve indexes, allowing access to access-restricted content based on user permissions and access criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If online search engines only index publicly available web documents, then data privacy and security are maintained, but the quantity and relevance of search results are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the search index into multiple components: public web content index and personal content index. Each index is maintained separately with different access permissions, allowing comprehensive search results while protecting personal data privacy through structured division of information sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary permission management layer between search engines and personal data. This intermediary system handles access requests, validates permissions, and controls data exposure, enabling search engines to access personal content only when authorized without compromising data security
2Quantity of substance
If search engines access personal data on personal devices, then the quantity of searchable content increases, but device complexity and security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal permission framework that can be implemented across diverse personal devices and content types. This multi-functional system handles various data formats, device types, and permission scenarios through a unified approach, reducing overall system complexity despite the diversity of personal content sources
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing permission structures and access controls before search operations. Personal data is pre-indexed with associated permission metadata, allowing search engines to efficiently query authorized content without complex real-time security negotiations, reducing operational complexity
3Loss of information
If users share personal data for search access, then search result relevance improves, but control over data access is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic permission controls that allow users to adjust data access settings flexibly. Users can dynamically grant, revoke, or modify access permissions for different search engines, content types, and time periods, maintaining ease of operation while enabling relevant search results through adaptable data sharing
Data Source
AI summary
A pervasive search architecture that indexes personal content of a querying user and made accessible to the user by other users. A compute node of a personal content location facilitates index generation and serve of the index. The index is generated for personal content stored at the personal content location. For a given content location, the index may encapsulate content stored in a set of locations with access permissions. The indexing application runs periodically at the personal content location and incrementally indexes content that is added to the shared locations. The same application allows the user to configure locations with the desired access permissions for participation in the search.